Last Friday, a judge rejected an attempt by federal antitrust officials to block the U.S. Sugar Corporation from purchasing another large player in the sugar industry. According to the News Service of Florida (NSF), U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika ruled against the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a lawsuit last year in Delaware to try to prevent the combination …
North Florida Farmer Selected for Pot License
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/Sept. 21, 2022) — The owner of a Suwanee County farm is in line to be the state’s newest medical-marijuana operator, beating out 11 other applicants competing for a license earmarked for a Black farmer with ties to Florida. The state Department of Health announced it had issued a “written notice of intent” to approve a medical-marijuana license for Terry …
Candy is Big Business in U.S., Sugar Industry Concerned about Policy
American candy makers are doing quite well, but is there a threat to the sugar industry? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It seems the U.S. has a sweet tooth, and that means big profits for candy makers. According to the National Confectioners Association, U.S. confectionery sales will reach $44.9 billion by 2026, which is a more than 20 …
APHIS Reviews Genetically-Modified Tomato
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reviewed a new tomato variety from Norfolk Plant Sciences. The tomato was modified to alter its color to purple and enhance the nutritional quality. The agency says it found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes and is not subject to regulation. …
Lawmakers Ask USTR To Protect Growers from Unfair Practices by Mexico
Lawmakers led by Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to investigate the flood of surplus agricultural products from Mexico. The request, filed as a petition under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, says actions by Mexico over the last two decades have burdened and restricted U.S. commerce. The lawmakers say that for …
New UF/IFAS Blueberry Lab Nearing Completion
Research efforts continue with a variety of crops at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), and that includes blueberries. And those researchers are looking forward to the completion of the new blueberry lab. UF-IFAS Senior Vice President, Dr. Scott Angle, noted to Southeast AgNet that their top-notch blueberry breeding program will get a boost from this new …
New Tomato Variety Approved by APHIS
There may someday be a new tomato in the produce department. That’s coming up on this land of ours. Norfolk Plant Sciences requested approval from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for a new tomato. The tomato was modified to alter its color and increase its nutritional quality. APHIS found that from a plant pest risk …
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher for U.S. Sugar Producers
A recent article from the American Sugar Alliance, notes the stakes have never been higher for U.S. sugar producers. Mark Oppold has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
UF/IFAS Researcher Developing a “Flavor Tool”
Research efforts continue at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in the area of food chemistry and quality, with an emphasis on the flavor (aroma and taste) of fruits, herbs and other agricultural commodities. UF-IFAS Senior Vice President Dr. Scott Angle explained to Southeast AgNet that Dr. Yu Wang is developing a “flavor tool” that relies on artificial intelligence to …
Fruits, Vegetables, Top Local Foods Purchased by Schools
Many U.S. school food authorities purchase local foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and proteins for their district’s cafeterias. In addition to buying locally produced foods, many school districts participate in other farm to school activities, such as product-specific promotions, taste tests of local foods, onsite edible gardens, and field trips to farms. Approximately two-thirds of U.S. school districts participated …